Never lost love for grain and seed

Wide interests: Thomas Corson devoted his career to the production of grain and seed, and along with his leadership in Corson Grain for more than 40 years, he had roles in other organisations, including TV3 News, Adair Brothers, Chelsea Hospital and the Poverty Bay Golf Club. Picture supplied

A man with a long career in the grain and seed industry in New Zealand, Thomas Corson, will be remembered as a significant contributor to the industry.

Mr Corson died on January 16 at the age of 86.

He was born in 1935 and grew up in Gisborne. He attended Gisborne Central School and Gisborne Intermediate before going on to Nelson College for his high school years, where he sang in the choir, played rugby and was on the shooting team.

When he left school, he worked for the Canterbury Seed Company and there he developed a love for grain and seed production, which he never lost.

After a couple of years in Christchurch he started in the family business.

From 1955-63 he worked in the sales and operations team at Corson Grain before being made the director of marketing and operations in 1963.

In 1972 he became managing director of Corson Grain and its subsidiaries, a position he filled until 1997 when he became executive chairman.

At 81 he retired although he always took an active interest in what was going on in the business.

Thomas always contributed to the wider grain industry in his career and was an executive council member for the New Zealand Plant Breeders and Research Association, including two different stints as president.

He was also an active participant in the NZ Grain and Seed Association throughout his long career.

In addition, he was chair of the Poverty Bay Golf Club, and was on the Eastland Energy Consumer Trust.

Along with that he was a director and trustee of TV3 News Limited, TV3 Region 2 Limited, Adair Bros, Chelsea Hospital, GF Blogg & Co and Pacific Cereals.

Corson Grain grew under his leadership especially in the export business where the company won the prestigious NZ Export Award in 1981 after a 400 percent increase in exports.

He initiated some innovative arrangements in the Pacific where the company had a joint venture for all the bulk storage and grain storage infrastructure in Noumea.

Today Corson Grain has four mills — in Gisborne, Tuakau, Warwick in Queensland and Darlington Point in New South Wales.

The company mills corn and other grain for corn snacks and cereals.

Thomas Corson loved to travel and socialise.

Duck shooting, golf and fishing were also among his favourite activities.

He is survived by his wife Gail and three daughters.